Walter Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Walter is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Walter?
Walter is spelled W-A-L-T-E-R. The name has 6 letters.
Walter at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Walter means “ruler of the army” or “commander of the army.”
- Origin
- Walter is commonly associated with Germanic origins, deriving from elements meaning “army” and “ruler.”
- Pronunciation
- WAWL-ter · 2 syllables
Walter Popularity in 2025
Rank#251
Recorded Births1,381
- Boys usage rose 20 places to #251 and recorded 112 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Walter Mean?
Walter means “ruler of the army” or “commander of the army.”
Origin: Walter is commonly associated with Germanic origins, deriving from elements meaning “army” and “ruler.”
How Do You Pronounce Walter?
PronunciationWAWL-ter
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Walter?
- History
- The name Walter has been used in various forms in medieval Europe and appears in historical records from the Middle Ages onward.
Walter Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 1,381 | #251 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,269 | #271 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,276 | #267 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,278 | #268 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,281 | #271 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,240 | #272 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,282 | #278 |
| 2018 | Boys | 1,313 | #271 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,366 | #265 |
| 2016 | Boys | 1,172 | #302 |
| 2015 | Boys | 1,158 | #309 |
| 2014 | Boys | 987 | #337 |
| 2013 | Boys | 939 | #342 |
| 2012 | Boys | 805 | #375 |
| 2011 | Boys | 801 | #374 |
| 2010 | Boys | 784 | #372 |
| 2009 | Boys | 789 | #383 |
| 2008 | Boys | 764 | #393 |
| 2007 | Boys | 810 | #379 |
| 2006 | Boys | 850 | #356 |
| 2005 | Boys | 770 | #374 |
| 2004 | Boys | 767 | #364 |
| 2003 | Boys | 775 | #354 |
| 2002 | Boys | 833 | #330 |
When Was Walter Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1918 · Boys
13,338 recorded births
National rank #11
1920 · Boys
13,294 recorded births
National rank #13
1921 · Boys
13,004 recorded births
National rank #15
1919 · Boys
12,879 recorded births
National rank #11
Where Walter Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MN | #73 | 78 |
| ND | #93 | 12 |
| VT | #102 | 5 |
| AK | #110 | 7 |
| ME | #113 | 12 |
| SD | #116 | 11 |
| IA | #119 | 33 |
| MT | #127 | 10 |